2025 Back to School Reading List

1. S is for School

by Greg Paprocki

Lots of kids look forward to going back to school each fall. This collection of 26 illustrations featuring words from A to Z will introduce toddlers to what all the fuss is about in a unique and engaging way. Included are artist Greg Paprocki’s colorful and wonderfully detailed illustrations that bring to life concepts from the school bus to the classroom, including activities, school subjects, friends, classmates, and teachers.

2. Eraser

by Anna Kang

Eraser is always cleaning up everyone else’s mistakes. Except for Ruler and Pencil Sharpener, none of the other school supplies seem to appreciate her.

3. Sideways Stories from Wayside Schoo

by Louis Sachar

Accidentally built sideways and standing thirty stories high (the builder said he was very sorry for the mistake), Wayside School has some of the wackiest classes in town, especially on the thirtieth floor. 

4. School’s First Day of School

by Adam Rex

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? 

5. The Loud Librarian

by Jenna Beatrice

Penelope is perfect for the job of student-librarian. Friendly? Check. Helpful? Check. Book lover? Check. There’s just one snag. Penelope is…LOUD.

6. Meet August

by April Martin

Meet August! The Calendar Kids get ready for the first day of school! It’s hot outside and August is worried about the new school year. He starts to sweat. Is it really that hot or is her just nervous?

7. Alphabreaths Too

by Christopher Willard PsyD, Daniel Rechtschaffen MA

8. Mermaid School

by Joanne Stewart Wetzel

Starting school is always exciting… especially when you’re a mermaid! From schools of fish to the A B Seas, this whimsical underwater tale puts a fun twist on what to expect on the first day of school.

9. The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade

by Justin Roberts

But Sally notices everything—from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor’s ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.

10. Time for School Little Blue Truck

by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad are excited to meet a bright yellow school bus on the road. They see all the little animals lined up in the school bus’s many windows, and Blue wishes he could be a school bus too.

11. Marker

by Anna Kang

Marker is one of the teacher’s go-to school supplies. Her work is tip-top, and she always makes a lasting impression. 

13. Tiny T. Rex and the First-Day Oopsies: A Back-to-School Book

by Jonathan Stutzman 

Tiny T. Rex is everyone’s favorite pint-sized dinosaur! Despite being a little dino in a big world, Tiny doesn’t mind taking on a new challenge, even when it’s the first day of a brand-new school. From his giant backpack to his good-luck bowtie, Tiny is prepared for anything, and that means nothing can go wrong . . . right?

13. Disney Princess: Princesses Love School!

by Bri Marie McNish

As the princesses go through the day’s events in their own worlds, the narrator will describe the different activities they experience like meeting the teacher, making friends, learning new skills, doing arts and crafts, enjoying recess, and more!

14. Ruby’s Tools for Making Friends

by Apryl Stott

It’s Ruby the fox’s first day at a new school. She’s a little nervous, but luckily, she has her tools to help: a tape measure to count her breaths if she feels overwhelmed…

xoxo, Shakira

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